Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 15004 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 125

Roman AE (approx. 662), of Gallienus, Victorinus, Tetricus I, Tetricus II, Claudius II Gothicus, and Tacitus, all but 29 of the coins are still in their envelopes after being fully catalogued at the British Museum, mixed condition, mostly very fine or better (lot)

The Roman Villa at Rockbourne was discovered in 1942 and excavations were undertaken under the supervision of the land owner Mr A T Morley Hewitt, every summer between 1956 and 1978. In August 1967, Mrs Joyce Ingrams discovered a large New Forest pottery jar which contained over 7000 coins. The Ringwood and Fordingbridge Journal described the find '
One of the largest hoards of Roman coins ever to be found in Britain was discovered in an earthenware pot buried beneath an outside wall at the Roman Villa at Rockbourne on Saturday.
There were 7,707 coins dating from 250 A.D. to 280 A.D. The discovery was made at 2 p.m. by Mrs Joyce Ingrams, who with her husband, Selwyn, has been travelling from their home in Tottenham for the past five years to work at the site.
Said Mr A.T. Morley Hewitt, who leads the excavation team: 'There being no facilities for weighing the find at the Villa, the pot was embedded in sawdust and carried to the village shop in Rockbourne. The only scale large enough for the job was a bathroom scale and the 'weigh-in' was carried out on this machine in the middle of Rockbourne's main street. The total weight of the coins was about half a hundredweight.'

No explanation for the burial of the hoard, in c.295 AD, has been offered.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£5,000